To Slight the Jacket Blue. Bronwyn Sciance
man will, and when he saw your device he didn't turn tail and run, though he knew what was likely in store–he stayed calm and told us we would fight."
"And a fat lot of good that did you."
"And had we surrendered from the start, what mercy could we expect? You know the Articles–no mercy, no quarter, until the majority of the crew be dead. Even not knowing the particulars, we knew we'd all be dead if we surrendered. At least fighting we stood a chance." Sam, glancing around the bulkhead, saw the younger of the two men spread his hands out. "He was always fair, to all of us, and he was an excellent commander. I followed him for that reason."
Henry scowled. "So why's the man so quiet now? Can't see Cap'n just sitting by and letting hisself get treated like a galley slave."
"He's hoping to get out of here alive," Joseph answered simply. "Cap's got a reputation. Sharpe is just trying to survive."
Henry drained his skin of water. "Ye mentioned the Articles–well, you just brought up the biggest problem with all this. Cap'n's rules say that all officers are to be killed. He's violated 'em by letting Sharpe live. Explain that, smart-arse."
Joseph shrugged. "Who can say? Maybe there's something special about him. Something the Cap'n knows the rest of us don't."
Henry sniggered. "Aye, I'm sure he's 'special'. Always suspected that was the reason the Cap'n forbade women on the ship–'cause he prefers the pleasures of men."
Sam unconsciously touched his left shoulder and began mentally running through the Articles to see if there was anything he could get Henry on. But Joseph was already vehemently denying it. "Never! Say what you will about Captain Bluejacket, but Sharpe would never do such a thing. He was always talking about the girl he had left behind in Portsmouth. He's no sodomite."
Henry held up his hands. "All right, all right! He's a fine gentleman, and woe betide me if I ever say another word against him. Come on, then, let's get back to work. I've a fair amount to do before I go off-duty."
The two sailors wandered off, but Sam stayed where he was, wrestling with his feelings. The thought foremost in his mind was, Why didn't Ned tell me he had a girl?
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